The Ducks are on the edge of solidifying a second consecutive NCAA
Tournament berth thanks in no small part to the eight players who have
participated in March Madness before. Six were part of Oregon's Sweet 16
run a season ago. In particular, however, the other two -- JasonCalliste and
fellow senior transfer Mike Moser, who did it at UNLV -- have played
with a fervor that has shown both their composure from their days in
non-power conferences and an urgency to get one last shot at the Big
Dance.

There's been a lot of discussion in the past week about whether
Oregon would support building an NFL stadium. The mayor of Tualatin, Lou
Ogden, said he'd be willing to come to the table if the Oakland Raiders
or any other NFL team wanted to have a serious discussion.

There's a petition circulating aimed at Gov. John Kitzhaber that
has collected more than 2,300 signatures in the past few days, asking
Kitzhaber to explore NFL to Oregon. Multiple news agencies have picked
up on the stories, and Raiders fans in Portland are understandably
encouraged.

But what we don't yet have is anyone in Portland leadership lifting a
finger. The state's biggest city wants to hit the snooze button?

Wilkinson and coach Caleb Porter scouted and signed two newcomers — forward Gaston Fernandez and defender Norberto Paparatto
— that have the league buzzing about the Timbers taking the next step
toward winning a championship. Both players are from Argentina, where
Wilkinson unearthed midfielder Diego Valeri before the 2013 season. And it was Wilkinson's action that put the Timbers in position to select Steve Zakuani in the re-entry draft.

Valeri
produced a scintillating 2013 season, leading the team with 10 goals
and adding an MLS-leading 13 assists on his way to being selected to the
MLS Best XI squad and named league newcomer of the year.

The first round is set up for massive failure. The best play the worst, and the results often produce a soul-crushing defeat.

During
the past four years, the top eight seeds in 6A girls are 32-0 in first
round games, with an average victory margin of 35 points. The top eight
seeds in Tuesday’s first round games went 8-0, with an average margin of
33 points. The closest game was No. 3 seed St. Mary’s 68-53 win over
Sunset.

It’s not quite as one-sided in boys, but the results
remain eye-opening. The top eight seeds during the past years in 6A boys
first round games are 30-2, with an average victory margin of 22
points.

This year, it was reasonably competitive, as the top eight
teams went 8-0, with an average margin of 17 points. It was 28, 24 and
22 the past three years.

“Students
talk about us, teachers know us. We’re in the school paper all the
time. They know what we’re doing,” OSU junior guard Ali Gibson said.

But, as OSU coach Scott Rueck says, that segment is over.

The
Beavers (21-9) advance to the next segment, a postseason that includes
the Pac-12 tournament and a likely NCAA tourney berth. Rueck said
earlier this week that he believes 21 wins puts Oregon State into the
NCAAs. Several online mock tournaments seem to agree, placing the
Beavers as a No. 11 or 12 seed. OSU is No. 34 in NCAA’s RPI rankings.

Despite
Oregon State’s rapid rise in the Pac-12 this season, there will be
questions as to whether this incredibly young team – nine of the
Beavers’ 11 players are freshmen and sophomores – can handle the
pressure and rigors of playoff basketball.